Spoken word artist George The Poet will guest curate the event. Photo: Lorne Thomson/Redferns
Spoken word artist George The Poet will guest curate the event. Photo: Lorne Thomson/Redferns
Spoken word artist George The Poet will guest curate the event. Photo: Lorne Thomson/Redferns
Spoken word artist George The Poet will guest curate the event. Photo: Lorne Thomson/Redferns

George The Poet to guest curate London Literature Festival


  • English
  • Arabic

Spoken word artist George The Poet will be a guest curator for the London Literature Festival 2023, which will feature celebrity readings from artists including Sir Patrick Stewart and Jada Pinkett Smith.

Other celebrities in the mix include Scandal star Kerry Washington, who will be presenting her new memoir Thicker Than Water, and British actor Nick Frost, who will discuss his memoir A Slice Of Fried Gold, with long-time collaborator Simon Pegg.

Stewart, who is best known for appearing in Star Trek, will present his memoir Making It So, while American actress Pinkett Smith will recount stories from her memoir, Worthy.

In its 16th year, the 12-day festival will take place at the Southbank Centre from October 18 to 29.

Actor Sir Patrick Stewart will present his memoir Making It So. Reuters
Actor Sir Patrick Stewart will present his memoir Making It So. Reuters

George The Poet – real name George Mpanga, 32 – will guest curate the opening night of the festival and will also be bringing to life his anthology Part Of A Story That Started Before Me.

The artist said: “I’m honoured to be a guest-curator for London Literature Festival this year, kicking off the festival with a night that brings together some of my favourite music and spoken word artists from London and beyond.

“The environment of London has been my teacher and inspiration, so I’m looking forward to celebrating the culture, sounds and poetry of the city in what promises to be a night to remember.”

Other spoken word celebrations include an evening with Out-Spoken, the Southbank Centre’s resident poetry and live music collective, hosted by Joelle Taylor.

The Lambeth poet laureate Abstract Benna will give a performance that reflects on his year serving the borough, while The National Poetry Library will host a gala day of spoken word performances and displays with BBC Radio 4 broadcaster Roger McGough.

Elsewhere in the programme, Korean author Yu Miri will be reading her novel The End of August, while photographer, critic and novelist Teju Cole will introduce his latest title, Tremor.

Dylan Thomas Prize-winning author Brian Washington will present his new novel Family Meal and author Oliver Jeffers will introduce his new picture book for adults, Begin Again: The Story Of How We Got Here And Where We Might Go.

Family events will be running across the October half-term, with former children’s laureate Dame Jacqueline Wilson presenting the sequel to her 2001 top-selling title Sleepovers – The Best Sleepover In The World.

Classic FM presenter and author Zeb Soanes will narrate his children’s story, Fred And The Fantastic Tub Tub and broadcaster and author Jeffrey Boakye will introduce his fun new adventure Kofi And The Rap Battle Summer.

The Black British Book Festival will be taking place alongside the London Literature Festival this year, kicking off with the launch of Little Mix star Leigh-Anne Pinnock’s new memoir, Believe.

The programme of talks also includes Unmasking Brilliance: Black British Voices In Media, as part of which politician Dawn Butler and journalists Clive Myrie and Gary Younge explore the achievements of black leaders in the media industry.

A host of interactive events will take place as well, including a dance-led celebration by Strictly Come Dancing champion and CBeebies Boogie Beebies host Oti Mabuse, who is marking the launch of her new book Dance Along With Mabuse.

Tickets for London Literature Festival go on sale to Southbank Centre members on Wednesday to the general public on Thursday, while tickets for the Black British Book Festival are already on sale. Some of the festival’s programmes will be free and unticketed.

Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
 
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Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
 
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
 
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
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Ruwais timeline

1971 Abu Dhabi National Oil Company established

1980 Ruwais Housing Complex built, located 10 kilometres away from industrial plants

1982 120,000 bpd capacity Ruwais refinery complex officially inaugurated by the founder of the UAE Sheikh Zayed

1984 Second phase of Ruwais Housing Complex built. Today the 7,000-unit complex houses some 24,000 people.  

1985 The refinery is expanded with the commissioning of a 27,000 b/d hydro cracker complex

2009 Plans announced to build $1.2 billion fertilizer plant in Ruwais, producing urea

2010 Adnoc awards $10bn contracts for expansion of Ruwais refinery, to double capacity from 415,000 bpd

2014 Ruwais 261-outlet shopping mall opens

2014 Production starts at newly expanded Ruwais refinery, providing jet fuel and diesel and allowing the UAE to be self-sufficient for petrol supplies

2014 Etihad Rail begins transportation of sulphur from Shah and Habshan to Ruwais for export

2017 Aldar Academies to operate Adnoc’s schools including in Ruwais from September. Eight schools operate in total within the housing complex.

2018 Adnoc announces plans to invest $3.1 billion on upgrading its Ruwais refinery 

2018 NMC Healthcare selected to manage operations of Ruwais Hospital

2018 Adnoc announces new downstream strategy at event in Abu Dhabi on May 13

Source: The National

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Name: JustClean

Based: Kuwait with offices in other GCC countries

Launch year: 2016

Number of employees: 130

Sector: online laundry service

Funding: $12.9m from Kuwait-based Faith Capital Holding

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UK's plans to cut net migration

Under the UK government’s proposals, migrants will have to spend 10 years in the UK before being able to apply for citizenship.

Skilled worker visas will require a university degree, and there will be tighter restrictions on recruitment for jobs with skills shortages.

But what are described as "high-contributing" individuals such as doctors and nurses could be fast-tracked through the system.

Language requirements will be increased for all immigration routes to ensure a higher level of English.

Rules will also be laid out for adult dependants, meaning they will have to demonstrate a basic understanding of the language.

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Gothia Cup 2025

4,872 matches 

1,942 teams

116 pitches

76 nations

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15 Lebanese teams

2 Kuwaiti teams

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THE BIO

Born: Mukalla, Yemen, 1979

Education: UAE University, Al Ain

Family: Married with two daughters: Asayel, 7, and Sara, 6

Favourite piece of music: Horse Dance by Naseer Shamma

Favourite book: Science and geology

Favourite place to travel to: Washington DC

Best advice you’ve ever been given: If you have a dream, you have to believe it, then you will see it.

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Spec%20sheet
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THE%20SPECS
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Company profile

Company: Eighty6 

Date started: October 2021 

Founders: Abdul Kader Saadi and Anwar Nusseibeh 

Based: Dubai, UAE 

Sector: Hospitality 

Size: 25 employees 

Funding stage: Pre-series A 

Investment: $1 million 

Investors: Seed funding, angel investors  

Scream%20VI
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The biog

Born November 11, 1948
Education: BA, English Language and Literature, Cairo University
Family: Four brothers, seven sisters, two daughters, 42 and 39, two sons, 43 and 35, and 15 grandchildren
Hobbies: Reading and traveling

Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
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1987

1954

1921

1888

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Updated: July 04, 2023, 5:24 AM`